26 Elul 5773
1 September 2013
Dear Friends,
I tried, but I couldn't
write just one Rosh Hashanah message this year. So this comes to you in
two parts: Part I and Part II.
I.
"Peace, peace, ... but
there is no peace!" (Jeremiah
6:14)
As I write these words, our
nation's leaders are contemplating whether, and if so how, to respond to the
Syrian government's alleged use of poison gas against its own citizens.
There appears to be a
profound lack of unanimity within our nation concerning whether and how to
respond -- and what the impact of our intervention might be.
Peter Beinart of the Daily
Beast raised the question: Why now? Why is poison gas the trigger?
After all, 100,000 civilians had already been killed prior to this most
recent attack. Already, 1.6 million Syrian refugees are registered with
the United Nations. (See here.) It is estimated -- I'm still in
shock thinking about this -- that there will be as many as 3.5 million refugees
by the end of 2013. Why, if the United States has not responded earlier,
Beinart asks, is it responding now?
I think I know the answer to
that. I know that for me, as a Jew, poison gas has a particularly
despicable and horrifying resonance. (Coincidentally, today is the anniversary
of the outbreak of World War II.) I am sure that for many others as well, the
sight of the innocent victims of the Syrian attack (including many children)
was sickening and heartbreaking.
Whatever our leaders decide
to do, I hope that they will energetically continue to elicit
international support to condemn this attack and to try to prevent future ones.
I hope that they will use wisdom and care in determining how to respond.
Finally, I pray that their actions will not inadvertently lead to a
dangerous escalation of the conflict, but will instead lead to a speedier
resolution.
May peace come soon to this
very troubled country in this very troubled region. May 5774 be more
peaceful than 5773.
II.
While our thoughts, prayers
and concerns are focussed on the international crisis, it is nonetheless true
that Rosh Hashanah is only a few days away. Although the season is a time
for self-reflection, it is not solemn. It is a time to celebrate the
coming of the new year which we hope will be a sweet one.
One way we express this hope
is by eating foods like apples and honey and desserts like honey cake.
Additionally, our Yom Tov meals on Rosh Hashanah begin with two challah loaves,
which we also dip in honey, and it is customary for these to be special round
loaves in honor of the holiday.
Recently, I saw a short and
sweet Youtube video featured in a Tablet magazine article that I couldn't
resist sending on to you. It features the well-known Jewish cook, Joan
Nathan, demonstrating how to make and braid round challot for Rosh Hashanah.
Even if you won't be baking your own this year, this video is worth
watching. (Click here to read the article and watch the
video.)
I hope that your Yom Tov
(holiday) tables will feature sweet round challot--even if they are not as
tasty as Joan Nathan's seem to be--and that they will usher in for you and your
family a good and a sweet year.
Shanah Tovah u'mtukah!
Rabbi Carl M. Perkins
